BooksPosted by Stephen Thu, September 21, 2017 17:42:53I have just completed the draft of 'Leicester at Work' for Amberley Books, covering the principal occupations of the townsfolk from medieval times to the present day. The research has been fascinating and enjoyable.

Ironically, the most difficult chapter was the last one, on Leicester in the twenty-first century. Somehow, the perspective of time enables a clearer picture of the past than can be obtained of the present.

This moody and atmospheric photograph of the River Soar from West Bridge was taken by the artist and photographer George Henton. It encapsulates perfectly Leicester as it was in the heyday of the textile and hosiery industries. On the right is the West Bridge Mill, familiarly the home of Pex Socks.

Introduction

Stephen Butt grew up in Weston-super-Mare in Somerset and gained his first degree from Durham University.

He worked as a Studio Manager with the BBC at Broadcasting House and with the BBC World Service before moving to BBC local radio and finally BBC Radio Leicester where he presented and produced a range of programmes. Later he became a Senior Broadcast Journalist and joined the station’s management team.

He now enjoys writing and historical research, with over twenty books in print which combine an academic background in local history with a practical interest in photography. Stephen's BA degree was in Psychology and his MA degree is in English Local History (University of Nottingham).

During 2009/10 Stephen provided production and location research support for Michael Wood's major BBC television series Story of England for which he organised the Kibworth Dig involving local families in digging more than fifty archaeological test pits. He also worked on Mayavision International's Great British Story: A People's History, which was broadcast on BBC2 and BBC4 in Summer 2012.

Stephen has served as Honorary Secretary of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society. In 2016 he was commissioned by Leicester City Council to provide the research and text for a new series of Heritage Panels.

He holds the Certificate in Local Government Administration and works as a Parish Clerk. He has also co-produced several short corporate videos for local government.